Wednesday WOW - September 29

The end of September and fall is in the air!

And there's hope that I'll finish this quilt soon!  As long as I don't keep ripping out seams, that is!

Update on Thimbleberries BOM

It's been about three months (or more!) since I showed you my Thimbleberries blocks.  Here is what I've done in the meantime.

We have more houses . . .

and another row of fences & flowers . . . still not doing so great with reading the directions.  LOL!

We've also introduced stars!

Here is one way a quilt could be laid out with the blocks I've done so far.  Of course, there are still, what? 4 more blocks?  That's one reason EQ is such a great tool!

Update:  I finished the ninth block yesterday . . . more houses!

Wednesday WOW - September 22

Stitching at the quilt shop today, which means the blue stars saw some progress!

And my latest toy!  Very lightweight (I can lift it with one hand!!) and portable.  So easy to pack and unpack when going to classes or stitching meetings.

Some differences in how it works, though, so I may have an issue with re-learning!

Meet Minnie

Minnie is the doll I submitted to this year's Hoffman Challenge.  She didn't get to travel, so she's back home early. 

Minnie is from my own pattern and her dress was inspired by a picture on the back of Threads Magazine.

The pattern in this year's fabric was just the right size to be a focal point on Minnie's dress.  The beadwork is pretty subtle, so you do need to look close.

 

It's been awhile since I finished a doll, but Minnie reminded me of how much I enjoy the process!

Wednesday WOW - September 15

This one hasn't seen daylight for awhile, but I'm determined to finish it THIS year! The unquilted areas seem to be growing instead of shrinking, though!

Designing Quilts

I finally finished my second EQ on-line class at Quilt University.  These classes have helped me so much.  If nothing else, they have raised my appreciation for those who design quilts - with or without EQ!

The focus for this class was on layouts, but we also learned about some really nifty tools for using color. 

It's really interesting how you can take a simple block and make something completely new by using color!

One thing I really am interested in is custom layouts.  I'm seeing a lot of designers doing things like this Farm Fresh quilt by Fran Gonzalez.

Now, the question is . . . do I actually make some of these quilts, or should I stick to virtual quilts?  To be determined.

Mea Culpa

Yes, you are right.  I did not post a Wednesday WOW this week.  My schedule got rearranged and I was not home to take pictures on Wednesday.   Of course, that is no excuse.  Trouble is, when my days get swapped around, I lose track of the calendar completely!  Wednesday becomes Thursday, and Saturday is Friday, while Friday is Tuesday.  Aaaaaargh!

Plus I've been very bad at posting, as well as reading your blogs.  I do need to get my act together one of these days, huh?  All I can promise is I'm working on it.  I've got lots of pictures to share, just need to put words with them!

For today, I will show you my worktable some time this week.  I thought about coming up with a catchy term for Saturday.  The first one was 'What's Up on the Saturday Scene' - which acronyms to WUSS.  Er, maybe not!

How about I just show you a picture without the fancy word work?

Messy, as usual.  The doll that's been here for months now has a face and hair!  Woohoo!

Wednesday WOW - September 1

Yikes!  What happened to August?  We are almost at Labor Day - much too soon for my comfort.  Fall will be upon us before you know it.

I'm afraid I will still be working on these blue stars, though!  Sometimes it feels like it will be forever!  But I did get quite a bit done today.  This was one of  my stitchin' days at the LQS and it helps to devote a block of time to the one project. 

The little doll is visiting me this month as part of a traveling doll exchange.  I get a different one every month.  Fun!